Dredging apparatus.



PATENTED IAN. 30, 3.906.

J. P. COLE. EDGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION ILBD MAYZB, 1905.

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? 55 E@ UML IIFD STATES PATENT orrron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed May 26, 1905. Serial No. 262,314.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES I). COLE, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredging Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to dredging apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for raising submerged deposit-e. g., sand,gravel, or granulated mineral matter.

The invention designs to provide improved apparatus in which air from a jet is commingled with the gangue to supplement a waterj et for lifting the gangue. In practice it has been found in apparatus heretofore constructed that when the air was not thoroughly intermixed with the water from the lifting-j et before entering the gangue the result was an alternate flow of air and water or gangue rather than an evenly-intermixed iiux of the air and water bearing the detritus in suspension.

The invention further designs to increase the efiiciency of apparatus of this type by providing means whereby the water and air are thoroughly and evenly intermixed or mechanically combined so even and constant pressure and flow of the gangue will result.

The invention further designs to provide several improvements in dredging apparatus.

The invention consists in the several novel.

features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved apparatus embodying theinvention, parts being broken away and shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the jet-head at the lower end of the ganguetube, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 7 7 of Fig. 1.

The gangue-tube 10 which may be of any desired length, may be suspended or supported in any suitable manner as well understood in the art. To the lower end of the gangue-tube is secured a dredging-head 11 with a central chamber 12 in its upper portion, which. is in communication with the lower end of the gangue-tube. Intake-ducts 13 in suitable number radiate from chamber 12 and are open at their outer ends to receive the gangue. LuOs 14 project from the head at each side of the intakes 13 to support a grid 15, formed of rods extending across the mouth of each intake to prevent obstruction of the gangue-passage by solids too large in size. The gangue projected upwardly through the gangue-tube passes by gangue tube or pipe 16 to any desired point.

A pipe 18, connected to a suitable source of supply-c. g., a pressure-pump-supplies water under pressure to a duct 18, formed in the head 11, the lower end of which duct is extended horizontally at 18a to conduct water under pressure to a nozzle 18h, from which water is projected into the gangue-tube A pipe 17 supplies air under pressure from a suitable source to a duct 17 in head 11, and said. duct has its lower end extended horizontally, as at 17,to conduct air into nozzle 17h, from which air is projected into nozzle 18h. The air-j et thus discharges into the water-jet, where the air and water are thoroughly connningled in transit to the ganguetube. The chamber in nozzle 18h, surrounding the airjet, serves as a mixing-chamber for the air and water. Resultantly the evenlymixed discharge from nozzle 18b is a medium whereby the gangue will be raised and whereby a uniform flow of the gangue is attained. By thus mechanically combining the water and air there is no material tendency of the air to expand downwardly through the intakes of the ganguetube; but, on the contrary, the expansion of air is gradual in transit through the ganguetube, and thus the maximum energy and efiiciency of the air is obtained. The pipes 17 and 18 are separately controlled by valves 17C and 1S,respectively, located at any convenient point, and thereby proper relative discharge of air and water can be maintained7 the purpose of such regulation being to establish equilibrium between the air and water, which will result in constant and even flow of the mixture for lifting the gangue. Furthermore, in practice the desideratum is to avoid excess of water, which by reason of its greater specific gravity will retard the flow of the gangue, while an excess of air will cause irregular flow and loss of expansive en ergy. Manifestly from the foregoing it will be seen that the air and water are mechanically combined or commingled before or approximately at the time of discharge into the gangue-tube and balance of the air and water IOO IIO

columns to effect proper proportionate discharge of the lifting medium into the ganguetube can be regulated to a nicety. It will be understood that any suitable means may be employed for providing the fluids under suitable pressure-c. g., seventy-five to three hundred pounds` The lower end of head 11 is tapered to facilitate penetration into a deposit, and av pilot-jet 19 is disposed to discharge centrally at the lower end of the head. The pilot-jet serves to direct descent of the gangue-tube and laterally displace the deposit beneath the gangue. The pilotjet communicates with a duct 19a, to the upper end of which is connected pipe 19h, connected to the source of water-supply under pressure. A valve 19C controls the operation of the pilot-jet, so it can be rendered operative and inoperative when desired. The head is also provided with a series of cutter-jets 20, from which water can be projected laterallyto loosen and displace the deposits at the side of the head. The jets 20 in any suitable number communicate with an annular chamber 20, to which water under pressure is supplied through a duct 2OEL in head 11 and a pipe 2()b also connected to the source of water-supply under pressure. A valve 2()C controls the operation of the cutter-jets and may be located at any desired point. The water-pipes for the lifting-jet, the pilot-jet, and the cutter-jet and the pipe for the air-jet are arranged around the anguel-tube. A tubular jacket 22, secured to the upper end of the head by ring 23 and bolts 24 inclose the several pipes. The gangue-tube and jacket are also secured together at their upper ends by a ring 25 of any suitable construction.

The operation of the improved apparatus will be as follows: When the gangue-tube and dredging-head have been lowered to work in the submerged deposit, the pilot-jet loosens and displaces the deposit, tending to cut a downward path for the apparatus. The cutter-jet supplements the action of the pilotjet and loosens and displaces the surrounding deposits, so they will be drawn into intakes 13 when the lifting-j et and air-j et are in operation. The air discharged from nozzle 17b under pressure commingles with the water in the nozzle of the lifting-j et 18h, and the mixture is lprojected upwardly in the ganguetube to force the gangue which has been drawn through the intakes. The mixture of the water and air being effected prior to discharge thereof into the gangue-tube, the lifting medium is rendered uniform and evenly expansive, resulting in effective, even, and constant upper projection of the gangue.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details of construction set forth, but may be modified by the skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- 3. ln dredging apparatus, the combina-4 tion of a gangue tube or duct, an air-j et and a water-j et, said air-j et discharging its fluid into the water stream so the fluids will be mechanically combined before discharge thereof into the gangue-duct.

4. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue tube or duct, a head at the lower end of said tube or duct and provided with intakes, an air-jet in said head, and a water-j et in said head, said air-jet discharging into the water column so the fluids will be combined prior to being discharged under pressure into the gangue-duct.

5. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue tube or duct, a duct for water, and an upwardly extending nozzle through which water from said duct is forced, and an air-j et discharging into said nozzle.

6. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue-tube, a lifting-j et, an air-j et, a head at the lower end of said gangue-tube,

and a centrally arranged downwardly discharging pilot-jet at the lower end of said head. v

7. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue-tube, a head at the lower end of said gangue tube, a centrally arranged, downwardly-discharging pilot-jet at the lower end of said head, a water-jet discharging into the gangue-duct, and an air-jet discharging into said water-j et.

8. ln dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue-tube, a head at the lower end of said gangue-tube, a centrally-arranged downwardlydischarging pilot -jet at the lower end of said head, a water-jet discharging into the gangue-duct, and an air-jet discharging its fluid to commingle with the water passing through the water-jet so the fluids will commingle before discharge into the gangue-duct.

9. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue tube or duct, a head at the lower end of the gangue-tube and having a chamber in its upper portion in communication with the gangue-tube, water and air ets for supplying fluids to force the gangues upwardly in the tube, and a pilot-jet at the lower end of said head, and a duct in said IOO IIO

head disposed at the side of said gangue-duct and communicating with the pilotjet.

10. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue-tube, a head at the lower end of said tube, a chamber near the lower end of said head, a pipe or duct for supplying water under pressure to said chamber, one or incre cutter-j ets leading outwardly from said chamber and water and air jets for forcing the gangue upwardly in the tube.

11. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue-tube, a head at the lower end of said tube, a chamber nearthe lower end of said head, a pipe or duct for supplying water under pressure to said chainber, one or more cutter-jets leading outwardly frorn said chamber, water and air jets for forcing the gangue upwardly in the tube, and a centrallydisposed downwardly-discharging pilot-jet at the lower end of the head.

12. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue-tube, a head at the lower end of said tube, a chamber near the lower end of said head, a pipe or duct for supplying water under pressure to said chamber, one or incre cutter-jets leading outwardly from said chamber, water and air jets for forcing the gangue upwardly in the tube, a downwardlydischarging pilot -'jet, and a separate duct leading to the pilot-jet.

13. In dredging apparatus, the combination of a gangue-tube, a head at the lower end of said tube, intakes in said head, a gangue-duct in said head, a water-jet and an air-jet, both discharging their fluids so they will cornniingle prior to discharge into the gangue duct, the discharge of the 4,mixed fluid being centrally arranged in the duct.

14. 'ln dredging apparatus, the coinbination of a gangue-tube, a water-j et and an airjet for forcing the gangue upwardly a separate pilot-j et, and valves whereby the liftingjets and the pilot-jet can be separately con trolled.

l5. ln dredging apparatus, the colnbination of a gangue-tube, a water-j et and an airjet for forcing the gangue upwardly, a cutterjet, and means whereby the operation of said jets can be controlled so the lifting-jets and the cutter-j et can be independently or simultaneously operated.

16. In dredging apparatus, the coinbination of a gangue-tube, a water-jet and an airjet, for forcing the gangue upwardly, a cutter'- j et, a pilot-j et, and means whereby the operation of the pilot-jet, lifting-jets and cutterjet, can be separately controlled.

JAMES P. COLE.

Witnesses:

FRED GERLACU, LEONE S. RUSSELL. 

